Friday, March 18, 2016

Stop Wildlife Crime, Trafficking and Stop Poaching Rhino Horns!

Wildlife trafficking doesn’t just happen in far-off places – it can be found
right here at home. The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth $7-23
billion, making it the third largest illegal trade by dollar value, after drugs
and guns. The United States is one of the largest consumers of both legal and
illegal wildlife in the world, and the role that it plays in combating wildlife
trafficking is crucial. That means that we as a nation – and YOU as a consumer –
have the power to make a major impact for wildlife. In this, as in so many
things, knowledge is power. Do you know enough about this trade to make a
difference?

Check out the links below to learn more about wildlife trafficking, and what
you can do to help fight it!

Badass All-Female Anti-Poaching Unit Reduced the Rate of Rhino Poaching by 76 Percent in Two Years! In case you haven’t heard of them yet, the Black Mambas are a badass, all-female anti-poaching group who are on a mission to save South Africa’s wildlife. While they mainly focus on rhino anti-poaching efforts, they’re also fighting for lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and many more. Their fearlessness and dedication to wildlife is truly admirable.This group of ladies is not only blazing trails for women everywhere, but they’re also doing an amazing job at protecting the world’s most endangered species.In the past two years that the Mambas have been on patrol in Kruger Park, they have reduced the rate of rhino poaching by 76 percent … You read that right – 76 percent. In two years. If that doesn’t say girl power, we don’t know what does!

It is estimated that three rhinos are killed every day for their horns. Why are rhinos being poached at such an alarming rate? For one, their horns are believed to have medicinal properties, but they are also used as status symbols and party drugs. This illegal wildlife trade is very lucrative, generating five to 20 billion dollars every year. Because of this demand, many rhino species have already been declared extinct. That’s where the fierce and fearless Black Mambas come in.“The Black Mambas are winning the war on poaching,” Siphiwe Sithole, a Black Mamba member, tells The Guardian. “We have absolutely zero tolerance for rhino poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The poachers will fall – but it will not be with guns and bullets.”It is estimated that the world has lost about 52 percent of its wildlife in the past 40 years alone. With this in mind, the work that these women are doing is supremely important.We can all help the Black Mambas in their mission to protect the world’s endangered species by never purchasing rhino horn. After all, when the buying stops, so can the killing. You can also help by making a donation in support of the Black Mambas. Together, we can help ensure that 76 percent reduction becomes 100 percent! Image source: The GuardianAction Needed: Help Us Ban the Ivory and Rhino Horn Trade in Massachusetts

Tell MA state legislators to help save elephants and rhinos.Born Free USA's mission is to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue individual animals in need, protect wildlife — including highly endangered species — in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation globally.

Sen. Jason Lewis, D–5th Middlesex, and Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D–8th Essex, introduced S. 440/H. 1275 to outlaw the sale of these wildlife products in the state. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to cosponsor this legislation.African elephants are nearing extinction owing to the high price of ivory and consumer demand. An average of 96 elephants are slaughtered daily by poachers, and an estimated 129,000 have been killed since January 2012. Read more about the horrific ivory trade here: http://www.bloodyivory.org/Meanwhile, rhinos are killed for their horns, which in parts of Asia are believed to have medicinal powers. This market is fueling the slaughter of more than 1,000 rhinos per year. Only 25,000 black and white rhinos remain across all of Africa, and they could become extinct in the wild in as little as 12 years.The U.S. is the second-largest ivory market in the world, after China, and also a significant destination for rhino horn. State laws banning the trade in these products are aimed at reducing the demand, which is why S. 440/H. 1275 is must-pass legislation.We can’t stand silently by while elephants and rhinos are driven to extinction. Now is the time to take action and save these intelligent, remarkable gentle giants.*Only Massachusetts residents can email MA state legislators. Everyone else can pledge their support for the issue!

Rhino
horn poaching: More than 1,300 African rhinos slaughtered for horns in 2015

The number of rhinos poached in Africa increased for the sixth year in a row with more than 1,300 killed last year — the greatest loss in a single year.

According to AFP, researchers from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature found that in 2015, at least 1,338 rhinos across Africa were killed by poachers for their horns.

The illegal trade is fueled by high demand in Southeast Asia, particularly China and Vietnam, where rhinoceros horns are prized for their purported medicinal properties.

Sold for about $60,000 a kilo on the black market, the horns are more expensive than cocaine, and worth more in weight than gold or diamonds.

The BBC reports that the trade has been banned in Africa since 2008, but despite continued efforts to combat the slaughter using drones, satellites, radios and other technology, losses reached a record high this year.

Join the fight against poaching all year long. Your monthly gift to the African Wildlife Foundation will help us strengthen our work to stop poaching by training and equipping rangers, deploying more canine detection units and advocating for tougher penalties for poachers and traffickers. The future of Africa’s wildlife depends on your commitment to keeping these majestic species safe – make a monthly gift now.